Jefferson Parish School Board approves amended teacher contracts

The Jefferson Parish School Board approved individual contracts for its more than 3,400 teachers Wednesday but not before the head of the teachers union chided officials for not including teachers in the contract-drafting process.

Mark Waller/The Times-PicayuneWhile Jefferson Federation of Teachers President Meladie Munch spoke to the Jefferson Parish School Board on Wednesday, teachers held up signs protesting a plan to install individual teacher contracts while the board and union negotiate an overall agreement.

By a unanimous vote, the board approved a template that it will use in writing contracts, promising teachers that their current salary and benefits will not go down from last year's levels.

Board members said the contracts are not meant to circumvent a collective bargaining agreement, and after a heated argument, approved an amendment by board member Mark Morgan that would allow teachers who sign the contract to engage in another contract at a later date.

"I want to reinsure teachers that the intent does not prohibit them from entering into a collective bargaining agreement at a later date," Morgan said, drawing applause and cheers from the audience.

Teachers, many of whom held signs voicing their concerns, had been skeptical of the board's motives, with some questioning whether the board supported collective bargaining at all.

"This contract was developed without teacher input," said Meladie Munch, president of the Jefferson Federation of Teachers. "There are numerous issues that teachers face everyday that are not addressed in the contract," including curriculum, discipline and testing issues.

For that reason, she said, "We hope we continue to move forward in good faith in contract negotiations."

Dozens of teachers packed the meeting room at Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School in Kenner, with those who couldn't fit gathering in the gymnasium. Many carried signs calling for school officials to treat teachers as partners. Others waved signs that said, "Collective bargaining is for me." Almost all wore blue t-shirts with the words: "I make a difference everyday."

The union's contract with the School Board expired July 1, leaving teachers without a collective bargaining agreement for the first time in years. The board refused to extend the contract while negotiating a new one, saying the old document is in direct conflict with new state and school system reforms.

The union had hoped that the two sides could hammer out an agreement before teachers return to school next month, but that is highly unlikely.

Board member Larry Dale proposed the concept of teacher contracts, insisting from the outset that he supported a collective bargaining agreement.

He said he was miffed by the union's stance, saying his only motive was to insure that teachers are protected when they return to work.

"I'm not trying to circumvent an agreement with the JFT," he said. "I've always said that, and I mean that. Come on, guys. I'm trying to bring us together. All I want to see is for teachers' rights, salaries, benefits and working conditions to be protected."

The document came in the form of recommendation from Superintendent James Meza, who worked with school system attorneys in developing the contract language. Besides salary and benefits provisions, the contract guarantees such working conditions as a daily duty-free lunch, uninterrupted planning time, advance notice of meetings, a class roster before the first day of school and extra pay for professional development.

In addition, teachers accused of violating a policy or procedure would have a right to appeal without "fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal regarding working conditions or other employment-related matters."

Like Dale, board President Mark Jacobs said he was baffled by the union's objections to the individual contracts.

"This in no way has anything to do with what is going on with the team that has been at the table with the JFT's group," he said. "This is an opportunity for teachers to come back to work, get their classrooms ready and be there for the kids on the first day of school."